Improvement in fire-arms



- Breeeh-Lpadlng Fire-Arm.

frgj.

E. LAFAUCHEUX.

INVENTOR.

N. PETERS, PHDTULITHDGRPMER, WLSHNGTON. DA Q 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Mar..26, 1861.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

v1MPE'ovEt/IENT Specification forming part of Letters Pa To all whom, it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, EUGENE LEEAUcHEUx, of the city of Paris, in the Empire of France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to be performedto be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and gures marked thereon-that is to say:

The said invention relates to certain peculiar constructions and arrangements of muskets, fowling-pieces, riies, andother fire-arms of that class, whether single ordouble barreled; and it consists in amovable breech-piece turning on the same axis as the hammer, and -effectually closing the end of thebarrel,which is fixed. The stock and butt are made in the form of a single metal skeleton frame,which carries the lock, and to which metal frame is ttedthe wooden butt made in two parts. In some cases the wood of the butt maybe replaced by stamped metal, such as zinc or copper. The working center of the movable breech is abovel the center line of the barrel, by which means a firmer j ointis obtained in a more simple manner than hitherto. In breech-loading fowlingpieces it is proposed to enlarge the diameter of the chamber,so that a shorter cartridge may be used with the same charge of powder. Aecording to another arrangement it is proposed to dispense with the movable breech, and to substitute therefor a rack formed on the under side of the barrel, gearing into a pinion contained within the stock. By turning this pinion the barrel will be slid 'away from its xed breech and in a position to receive the charge.

In order that the said invention may be fully understood, I shall now proceedl'more particularly to describe the same, and for thatpurposeI shall refer to the several figures on the sheets of drawings hereunto annexed, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the corresponding figures.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a side elevation of a gun constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a detached plan of 'the movable breech-piece. Fig. 3 is a detail of the trigger mechanism. Fig'. 4. is a separate view of a small support serving as a bearing for the axis, which carries the movable breech IN FIRE-ARMS.

tent No. 31.809, dated March 26, 1861.

In the drawings the wood-work of the butt is removed in order to show the metal frame. This metal frame A, Fig. 1, upon which is fixed trigger and lock mechanism, which consists of the cock or hammer C, the trigger D, and the movable breech-piece E. Ont-his metal frame are also iitted the mainspring R and the trigger-spring r. The hammer G is cocked on turning back the breech-piece E for the purpose of loading the gun, and after having replaced and closed the breech-piece, by acting on the trigger the gun may be fired instantly. The support F is xed to the metalframeAby two screws, and serves asa a of the trigger. rIhe axis a serves as a center for thehammer and for the movable breechpiece. rIhe red lines in Fig. l show the intermediate position of the parts.

Although I have only represented a singlebarreled gun in the drawings, yet this invention is equally applicable to double-barreled guns or fowling-pieces; but the hammers and breech-pieces would require to be made disproportionately long to allow of the entrance of small-shot cartridges, which are much `longer than ball-cartridges. This objection is obviated, however, by increasing considerably the bore of the charge-chamber in the barrel which receives the cartridge, whereby the quantity of powder and shot required for a charge may be contained `in a shorter cartridge than in pieces hitherto used, andtherefore the hammer may be reduced to its ordinary size. The dimensions of the two systems will be readily seen and compared on referring and 6m. Fig. 5 represents the cartridgehitherto used. Figs. 6 andfbis show two arrangements of cartridges increased in diameter and adapted to barrels bored in different ways. Beyond the advantage above mentioned greater precision of fire will'be obtained. For ballcartridges I propose to employawrought-iron breech-piece, which may be accurately adapted to the breech end of the barrel. In Fig. 1 the movable breech-piece is shown as bearing directly upon the barrel, and has no intermediate piece between it and the barrel. The joint or working center of the breech-piece may be placed either at the sides of the arm, on the center of the barrel itself, or upon its sides.

as well as the cock.

Fig. 7 shows a modication of Fig. 1. In

the barrel B, is so formed as to receive the I bearing for the axis to Figs. 5, 6,

this case the swivel or hinged'movable breechpiece is replaced by a rack, P, formed on the barrel, and actuated by the pinion p, worked by hand.

It is obvious that the barrel may be readily slid forward sufficiently to admit of the entrance of a cartridge, and again drawn back against a fixed breech-piece.

Fig. 8 represents a percussion-gun fitted with a metal butt or stock. In this instance the hammer or hammers Q are outside, as in ordinary guns. They carry a collar or boss, q, in which the notches are made (see Fig. 9) for the trigger action, as in Fig. 1.

Fig. l0 representsadetaohedplan of ametal butt or stock frame suitable for receiving a double-barreled percussion-gun.

Figs. llr and l2 are views of two arrangements for disengaging or removing the cartridges from the barrel. In Fig. l1 asmall lever, L, is used, placed vertically on one of the sides of the barrel, the end Z of the lever catching the pin or spindle on the side of the cartridge and forcing it out of the barrel. In Fig. 12 the lever L is supposed to be placed on the top of the barrel consequently a horizontal movement is imparted to it to bringit into the.

position (shown by red lines) for removing the cartridge. I

Figs. l and 2, Sheet N o. 2, represent an elevation and plan of the application to a pistol of the mechanism and improvements hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figs. l to 5. A is the metal stock orhandle which receives the barrel B, the lock mechanism consisting of the hammer C, trigger D, and movable breech E. The barrel B is also provided with the small lever L, which turns on the center Z and serves to remove the cartridge-case.

Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of said invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that what I consider to be novel and orignal, and therefore claim as the invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part rccited Letters Paten-t, is-

In combination with aiixed barrel, the movable breech-piece and hammer, constructed and arranged so asto turn on one and the same axis, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

E. LEFAUCHEUX.

I/Vitnesses:

G. Mumien, GEO. HUT'roN. 

